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OCEAN DIVER
“ It’ s never too late to start”
Chris Bell, 43, joined Bradford SAC in August last year after completing a few try dives with the club.
“ Many moons ago my dad belonged to Keighley BSAC,” says Chris.“ He was diving before I was born. I always heard the tales. He dived with Keith Jessop [ famed for retrieving gold from HMS Edinburgh ].”
It was Chris’ niece who finally made him try scuba last summer with local club Bradford SAC after she told him just how much she enjoyed her experience there.
“ She encouraged me, but I had put it off for so many years,” he says.“ Then she called to tell me she had booked me in. After I did the first try dive, I was grinning from ear to ear. I came back for three or four try dives and did some basic skills, such as mask clearing and changing over regulators. This meant the training wasn’ t such a shock.”
Chris completed pool training quickly and was eager to head to open water.
“ It was hard at first putting all the heavy kit on for the training dives at Capernwray and getting to the water edge,” he explains.“ But as soon as we were in the water our instructor settled us down straight away. As soon as you’ re underwater you feel like you’ re flying. It was fantastic. I knew it was definitely for me, but wished I had done it years ago.”
Since completing his Ocean Diver course,
Chris has dived at Stoney Cove, Leicester, Oban in Scotland, and Anglesey in Wales. He’ s also qualified as a Sports Diver and embarked on the next step, Dive Leader training.
“ Diving takes us all over the country. In a year I’ ve done 46 dives. Bradford is a very active club, probably one of the busiest in the region. Oban was fantastic, as I was actually seeing marine life. I am very open to any diving. It has got me hook, line and sinker.”
Chris has made sure his children get in the water at an earlier age than him.
“ I dragged my daughter Amy, who is 13, to do a try dive,” he laughs.“ She then did some lessons as part of the BSAC This Girl Can Dive scheme. She loves it. My dad was so chuffed when I started, and then when my daughter did too. My next trip I’ d like to do with my daughter in the school holidays. My other, younger daughter is also going to get into snorkelling.
“ It’ s never too late to start diving, but I wish I had got into it sooner. I’ d tell people to just do it – don’ t put it off any longer!”
“ Training is done at your own pace”
Diving was among experiences Victoria Westbury wanted to tick off her bucket list before she turned 40. The 36-year-old mother of two found out about her local club Bradford SAC at the Yorkshire Water Fun Day. As her eldest daughter Jessica, 12, was of age, she signed them both up for training.
“ It’ s been fantastic,” says Victoria.“ We started together and have done all our training together. We have spurred each other on and given each other moral support.” Despite facing some initial challenges on her open water dives at Capernwray, Victoria says she’ s really proud of her achievements.“ From the very first day our instructor, Kevin, has been fantastic,” she says.“ The first time I went underwater it felt so unnatural. I also felt a bit unsure on my second dive when I looked up and saw how deep I was – even though it was only a few metres. Kevin calmed me straight away. All the training is done at your own pace. There’ s no rush.“ It’ s a lot of hard work, but it’ s really rewarding. You feel like you are achieving something. Diving is such a skill to learn. I’ m really chuffed.” Her daughter Jessica has completed a few more dives than her mum.“ If she carries on, by the time she’ s 18 she’ ll be amazing,” says Victoria.“ There are other young ones at the club, so Jessica has made new friends. My husband is not interested, but my youngest daughter [ aged 10 ] comes along to the club night every Monday for snorkelling and wants to dive when she’ s 12.” Victoria says learning with her daughter has made her a little cautious at times, but believes it has also motivated her own training.
Chris Bell with daughter Amy
SJessica and Victoria Westbury
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